Judge Holds 7 Defendants During Initial Hearing

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 15, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

On Sept. 15, DC Superior Court Judge Heide Herrmann released 23 defendants and held seven defendants at the DC Jail during initial hearings.

Judge Herrmann held Aumia Williams, 39, who is charged with prison breach and distribution of a controlled substance, which was cocaine, in two cases. Williams was also brought in on four outstanding bench warrants for failing to appear in court.

Judge Herrmann found probable cause for William’s distribution of a controlled substance and prison escape charges. Williams was charged with prison escape after leaving a halfway house while on pretrial release in 2019. Due to the defendant’s history of violating conditions of release, the judge ruled that Williams will be held at DC Jail until her next hearing on Oct. 7. 

One defendant, 22, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and armed kidnapping in a domestic violence case. The defendant allegedly barricaded the entrance to his apartment and grabbed a female victim’s hair as she tried to leave. He then allegedly threatened the victim with an axe, saying he would throw the axe at her head if she tried to leave.

The defendant’s attorney argued for her client to be released for mental health treatment. Judge Herrmann held the defendant due to the concerning nature of the crime along with the defendant’s two pending assault cases. 

D’Sean Walker, 23, was arrested on a GPS tampering charge for failing to charge his monitoring device. Judge Herrmann released him on his new case but held him on a parole matter. 

Kevin Boyd, 32, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, driving without a valid license and improper use of tags. Judge Herrmann released him on his new case but held him on a parole matter. Once released, Boyd is ordered not to drive without a valid license.

Judge Herrmann decided to hold Ray Spencer on his parole violation. Spencer, 30, was arrested on GPS tampering charges for failing to charge his monitoring device after acknowledging the conditions of his parole. Spencer was also brought in as a fugitive from justice from Maryland, where he is wanted for probation violation. Judge Herrmann released Spencer on his two new cases, but he was held on a parole hold. 

Dwayne Nowlin, 39, is charged with lewd, indecent or obscene behavior to which he submitted a plea of not guilty. While the prosecution was not opposed to Nowlin’s release providing he stay away from two locations, Judge Herrmann decided to hold him pending another District Court case. 

Charles Vaughn was arrested on fugitive charges from Maryland, where he is wanted for aggravated assault and failing to appear for his hearing in a traffic offense. Since Judge Herrmann was not inclined to release him given the seriousness of the assault charge, Vaughn agreed to waive his right to an extradition hearing, consenting to remain in jail to wait for Mayland officials to come get him within three business days. Judge Herrmann accepted his waiver and ruled to hold him in DC jail. 

Of those released, two defendants did not have charges filed against them by the prosecution and one defendant was released on citation with a court date of Oct. 31.

Judge Herrmann heard five additional domestic violence cases involving simple assault, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, violation of a Civil Protection Order (CPO) and violation of a Temporary Protection Order (TPO). The defendants were all released with stay-away orders from the alleged victims.

Two defendants, charged with being fugitives from justice, were released. The defendants are wanted in Maryland and Virginia for failing to appear at their hearings. Judge Herrmann released the defendants with orders to turn themselves in to demanding jurisdictions as soon as possible.

Seven defendants charged with misdemeanors were released by Judge Herrmann. Three of the defendants are charged with simple assault, two defendants are charged with unlawful entry into private property and two defendants are charged with cases involving stolen goods. Five of the defendants were given stay-away orders.

Two defendants, charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, were released. One defendant was allegedly in possession of PCP and the other was alleged to have had heroin and cocaine on him. Both defendants were given stay-away orders.

Two DUI cases were heard by Judge Herrmann, and she released both defendants with orders not to drive after consuming alcohol or drugs.

Finally, two defendants were brought in on bench warrants for failing to appear at their hearings. Judge Herrmann released both defendants with new court dates of Sept. 21 and Feb. 16, 2021.